The government is considering stopping the issuance of new permits for groundwater drilling in Jakarta in view of groundwater basin condition in the metropolis which is classified as damaged, and not just critical.
Yuliot Tanjung, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) said the condition of the groundwater basin (CAT) in the capital city is already damaged due to intensive groundwater extraction.
“Later, we will consolidate it [groundwater condition] first with the Jakarta Provincial Administration,” Yuliot said on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, said that decades-long groundwater extraction in Jakarta has resulted in land subsidence.
The decline in groundwater has caused the coastal communities of North Jakarta to always be threatened by tidal flooding, with an annual decline of 10 centimeters of ground surface reported in some places.
The government responded by trying to supply water, including raw water, to meet the needs of residents without exploiting groundwater even worse.
“We ensure that the Jatiluhur drinking water supply system (SPAM) can provide a clean water supply of approximately 3,200 liters per second,” Agus said.
The government is also determined to ensure that the SPAM Karian Dam in Banten will start production soon, so that it can also increase the water supply to Jakarta that groundwater extraction in the capital city can be reduced.
